Zechariah 12 9

Zechariah 12:9 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:9 nkjv

It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:9 niv

On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:9 esv

And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:9 nlt

For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12 verses

Zechariah 12 9 Meaning

Zechariah 12:9 declares God's determined intent to decisively destroy all gentile nations that gather to attack Jerusalem in an unspecified future day. It foretells a sovereign divine intervention where God Himself takes the initiative to annihilate the hostile forces arrayed against His holy city and people, affirming His ultimate protection and judgment. This event serves as a clear statement of God's unshakeable commitment to Israel's restoration and the defeat of all His adversaries.

Zechariah 12 9 Context

Zechariah 12:9 appears within a broader prophetic oracle (Zech 12-14) concerning "the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel" (Zech 12:1). Chapter 12 primarily describes an eschatological invasion of Jerusalem by all surrounding nations. This invasion is not random; God allows it, even orchestrates it, to serve as a crucible for His divine purposes. He will make Jerusalem "a cup of trembling" and "a burdensome stone" to its enemies, drawing them to their destruction while also empowering Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to supernaturally defeat their foes (Zech 12:2-8). Verse 9 acts as the climax of this initial phase of conflict, announcing God's personal and ultimate resolve to obliterate all the invading forces. Historically, Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet encouraging the rebuilding of the temple and the people's faith, but a significant portion of his prophecy looks forward to Israel's future glory, the coming of the Messiah, and the ultimate restoration and triumph over all enemies. This verse directly addresses that ultimate triumph in "that day," referring to the eschatological Day of the Lord.

Zechariah 12 9 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass: (וְהָיָה - v'hayah)

  • This phrase is a common prophetic formula. It signals a shift to a future event of profound importance.
  • It indicates divine certainty and the inevitability of what follows. God's declaration is a promise that will undeniably unfold.

• in that day: (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayôm hahûʼ)

  • A significant eschatological term throughout the prophets, especially Zechariah (appears over 20 times in Zech 12-14).
  • It does not necessarily mean a literal 24-hour period but refers to an era or specific period in God's redemptive timeline, often connected with divine intervention, judgment, and salvation.
  • In Zechariah, it specifically points to the time of the Messiah's coming, Israel's national repentance, and God's final actions regarding His people and their enemies.

• that I will seek to destroy: (אֲבַקֵּשׁ לְהַשְׁמִיד - avakkēsh l'hashmîd)

  • I will seek: (אֲבַקֵּשׁ - avakkēsh - a form of בָּקַשׁ - bakâsh) - The verb bakâsh means "to seek," "to demand," "to require," "to wish for." Here, in the Qal stem (simple active), it conveys God's purposeful and active intent, His fixed resolve. It's not passive, but a deliberate act of God's will. It shows personal divine involvement.
  • to destroy: (לְהַשְׁמִיד - l'hashmîd - a form of שָׁמַד - shâmad) - The Hiphil (causative) infinitive, meaning "to annihilate," "to lay waste," "to utterly ruin." This is a strong verb indicating complete devastation. God is not merely allowing destruction but actively causing it. The combined phrase indicates God's purposeful and thorough annihilation.

• all the nations: (אֶת־ כָּל־ הַגּוֹיִם - et- kol- hagoyim)

  • All: (כָּל־ - kol) - Emphasizes the comprehensive and universal nature of the judgment. No nation that aligns itself against Jerusalem will be spared.
  • Nations: (הַגּוֹיִם - hagoyim) - Refers specifically to the Gentile nations, often in contrast to Israel. In a prophetic context, these are frequently portrayed as God's adversaries due to their oppression or antagonism towards His chosen people.

• that come against Jerusalem: (הַבָּאִים עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלַם - habbaîm ʻal- yᵉrûshalâim)

  • Come against: (הַבָּאִים עַל־ - habbaîm ʻal-) - Describes aggressive movement, invasion, or siege.
  • Jerusalem: (יְרוּשָׁלַם - Yerûshalâim) - The capital city, chosen by God as His dwelling place, representing God's people, His covenant promises, and His redemptive plan. The assault on Jerusalem is ultimately an assault on God Himself. This phrase clearly identifies the specific target of the nations' aggression and, consequently, the object of God's protection.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations": This grouping highlights the definite timing and the divine agency. God's purposeful resolve (I will seek to destroy) is paramount. "That day" connects this specific act to the broader eschatological context of judgment and vindication, where God definitively settles accounts with all His enemies.
  • "all the nations that come against Jerusalem": This phrase precisely defines who will be destroyed and why. It's a universal judgment (all nations), but specific to those hostile entities that gather against God's designated city. This gathering against Jerusalem serves as the precipitating event for God's promised action. It underscores Jerusalem's central role in the climax of human history and divine justice.

Zechariah 12 9 Bonus section

This verse establishes Jerusalem, and by extension God's covenant people, as the epicenter of a final eschatological conflict. It posits a divinely ordained magnetic draw of all adversarial gentile forces to Jerusalem, not for their triumph, but for their decisive downfall. The "burden" (מַשָּׂא - maśśāʼ) on Israel in Zech 12:1 carries a double meaning: both a heavy pronouncement and a weight or destiny upon them. Here, the weight of their destiny involves God's personal intervention against their final, universal foes. This prophecy has seen partial fulfillments or types in historical sieges, yet its scope ("all the nations") points to a future, unparalleled global confrontation culminating in the direct, cataclysmic intervention of the Almighty, often linked to the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. The outcome of this global war is assured: God's chosen city and people will be saved, and their enemies completely vanquished.

Zechariah 12 9 Commentary

Zechariah 12:9 presents a powerful affirmation of divine sovereignty and protective love for Jerusalem, understood as metonymic for God's covenant people. In the prophetic "that day"—a climactic, future period—God takes direct action. It's not a mere passive allowance but an active, determined "seeking to destroy" all nations that oppose His capital city. This destruction is total, applying to "all" nations involved in this final confrontation. The divine oath provides assurance that God's plan for Jerusalem and Israel will culminate in their ultimate vindication and the utter defeat of their enemies. This promise anticipates the ultimate victory of God and His Christ, as also described in Revelation, where Christ Himself executes judgment on those gathered against Him at His return. The verse serves as both a comfort to God's faithful people throughout history and a warning to any who would oppose His purposes concerning Zion.